Method for manufacturing ingots



Aug. 25, 1931. z, co w 1,820,597

METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING INGOTS Filed March '7, 1930 Inventor zwm A iiomey Patented Aug. 25, 1931 1,820,597

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ZACK. COLWELL, OF NILES, OHIO METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING INGOTS Application filed March 7, 1930. Serial No. 434,031.

This invention is predicated upon a novel and unique conception involving a practical and feasible method and physical means for producing metal ingots, such as are employed in the manufacture of steel.

The improved method, which is believed to be original, embodies an unusually efiicient process for increasing the efiiciency of steel ingots by preventing the objectionable pip- 19 ing action which ordinarily accompanies the construction of ingots of this character.

The physical means which is intimately allied with the method of production, em-

bodies the utilization of a new ty e of ladle expressly designed for insuring e oient and efiective accomplishment of the desired result of the. invention.

The factors oi novelty, utility and invention constituting the fundamental factors of this new inventive conception will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the especialical part of the conception.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view with portions broken away and shown in elevation.

I will first describe the ladle. This is generally designated by the numeral 3. It comprises a receptacle of appropriate proportion suchas is generally employed for containing the molten. metal. In accordance with the present invention, there is a vertical web or partition 4 formed onthe interior and extending from the bottom to the top. This is here shown of arcuate configuration and it serves to define a main cham er or compartment 5 for reception of the molten metal, and a companion chamber or compartment 6 for collection and reception of the hot slag.

It will be noted that the upper edge of the palrtition is formed with a notch '7 which dees an overflow passage allowing the rising hot slag to overflow from the mam chamber 5 to the subordinate hot slag chamber 6. There is an upstanding nipple 8 in the bottom of the chamber 5 defining the outlet for $0 the molten metal. This is arranged near the ly constructed ladle constituting the mechanhot slag.

wall of the main receptacle as shown in Figure 1.

The plug valve 9 which cooperates with the outlet is mounted on an operating frame 10 which is manipulated by appropriate means (not shown). There is a similar nipple 11 formed in the compartment 6 which serves to discharge the hot slag and a plug valve 12 co-operates with this, the valve being operated through the medium of the ac- 60 tuating frame 13.

It is a matter of common knowledge to persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates that when the metal is taken from the furnace and poured into the ladle it contains slag, which rises to the top of the ladle. In the present ladle itwill be noted that there is a notch or passage 7 in the top of the partition 4: which allows the slag from the surface of the hot metal to run from the compartment 5 over" into the compartment 6 where it accumulates, thus automatically. placing slag in this part of the container to be used to cap the ingots.

The improved process or method involves the improvement of steel ingots by preventing piping as before mentioned. This is accomplished by capping the steel ingots with Particular emphasis is to be laid on this result. The efi'ect is thus. By capping the ingots with hot slag the heat in the steel in the top of the ingots is retained in a molten condition, permitting the same to flow into any cavity that may be made by escaping gas, and in so doing, preventing what is commonly known as piping of ingots.

The method of operation is as follows:

The ladle is placed about six feet above the ground and under it is a narrow gaugeof railroad track, over which the ingot molds, for casting purpose, are hauled. When a mold is under the stopper or outlet 8, and the plu 9 is raised, the molten metal is allowed to ow into the mold beneath it until practically filled. The mold isthen moved so as to be directly under the outlet indicated at 11. This permits the discharging of slag, and a sufiicient amount of slag is allowed to flow through this into the mold to fill the remaining portion thereof. mo

These outlets are spaced distances apart equal. to the distance between the ingot molds on the cars running beneath the ladle, which means that as one ingot is being capped with slag, the ingot mold next behind can be filled with molten metal, thus performing both operations simultaneously and in quick succession. This minimizes labor and expedites the casting operation.

There is unusual continuity of action between the physical means and the method which enables this practical inventive conception to be carried into actual practice. This will be appreciated by persons familiar with the art to which the invention relates. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary. 4

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice if desired.

I claim: 7

1. The method of constructing steel ingots consisting of suspending a duplex ladle above a series of mobile molds, filling said duplex ladle with furnace run until the slag rises and overflows into a slag retaining means thereon, discharging the steel first into an ingot mold and filling said mold almost full, and secondly, discharging hot slag from said slag retaining means into the same mold for capping the steel, and discharging steel into the next adjacent mold while simultaneously so capping the steel in the pi'eceding mold with slag, whereby to produce simultaneous ingot molds so as to cause the slag to rise in the ladle and overflow into a separate compartment in the ladle, then moving a pair of molds into position under said ladle and simultaneously filling one of the molds and capping the other.-

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

ZACK CO WELL.

action of filing and capping two molds at a time.

2. A method of casting steel ingots as described comprising pouring the furnace run into a duplex ladle having means for separating the slag from the the slag separate from the steel, and valving first a quantit of steel into a mold and while capping another by valving a quantity of slag thereon from the same ladle.

3. A method of casting steel ingots as described comprising filling a duplex ladle with molten furnace run until the slag rises therein and overflows into a slag retaining means thereon, and then valving the steel into a mold and capping another mold with slag valved from said retaining means.

4. A method of pouring and capping steel ingots comprising pouring furnace steel into a ladle until the slag rises in the ladle and overflows into a separate slag retaining compartment in said ladle, the ladle arranged to straddle a pair of molds movable into position thereunder, then simultaneously pouring steel and slag from the ladle to fill an einpty mold and to cap a filled mold with s ag.

5. A method of ingots comprising a adle suspended pouringand capping steel pouring furnace steel into over a movable series of steel and retaining 

